Alert: The following services will be unavailable on Saturday,
January 5, 2013 from 12 a.m. (midnight) to 6 a.m. CST due to system maintenance.

Driver license and ID card myths

Myth

There is something called an
"International Drivers License"
that you can use in this country to avoid local
law enforcement.

Fact

Although there are offers out there
advertising that you can get an international
license that can never be suspended, can help you
avoid tickets, fines and mandatory driver
education, these offers are bogus. Your driving
privileges can and will be withdrawn whether you
have a license or not, if you get tickets, etc.

Myth

Valid licenses and ID cards can be
purchased via the Internet.

Fact

Although these items may
look valid,
they are NOT. Unless a license or ID card is
issued by an official source, it may not be
presented as an official document. Only valid
official documents may be used legally.

Myth

There is a
surefire way to avoid surcharges on your car
insurance if you get a ticket - pay some amount
over the fine and when you get the ticket refund
check, dont cash it!

Fact

All that will do
is cost you more money and make a lot of work for
everyone. The system will still put the violation
on your driving record, along with any points
that go with it.

Fake card/ID penalties

The penalty
for using fake driver licenses or ID cards is a fine of
$200 to $600 and/or 6 months in prison for the first
offense. For additional offenses, the penalties increase
to up to $2,000 and mandatory prison time of up to 6
months. With identity theft and other types of fraud on
the rise, this kind of crime is getting a lot of
attention. Dont believe that the
"novelty" products sold in magazines or on the
Internet are foolproof! New technology makes it easy to
spot a fake, and you never know who youre buying
from.

Site navigation

All external hyperlinks are provided for your information and for the benefit of the general public. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation does not testify to, sponsor or endorse the accuracy of the information provided on externally linked pages. Some pages contain links to other documents and media types (PDF,
Word, Flash, Video, etc.) and require free plugins to work. Visit our software information page for assistance.